Kneeling bench



J. KAZOWSKI Dec. 13, 1932.

KNEELING BENCH Filed April 9, l1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 13, 1932. J.KAZQWSKI 1,890,815

KNEELING BENCH Filed April 9, 193C 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y ffy. 5.

Patented Dec. 13, 1932 U-Nrrsnffsrxrss t. 1P TE NT OFF IC ElY JOHNvKMJOWSIII; orcHIoAGdinLrNoIs, ASSIGNOR 'ro JO'SEPHTSILVERMAN, or

CHICAGO,

i KNEELINGIBENCI;

Application '1ed` 'April 9,

? 5v-fperv maynkneel during participation'in the if religious ceremony.

@It is usualin church furniture of 'this type 'ltoprovide acushion`-likesup`port upon which fthe worshippermaykneel rand alsotopro- Gio avideaufsu-pport upon Whichthe worshipper #may place :his'armsor elbows. `My `ii'i'vention i: isi particularly concerned with`provid-ing a collapsible' or fielding type offkneeling bench which mayfbeutilized f tog augment Athecapac- :'flfityf'oflthe church'duringtimesfwhengreat' y l fbench and *which 1s' seen toY comprise thecrowds attend the servicesas WellasI-toprofvi'de/an article Tofthis'type"Where itinay be :1 desiredteset up temporarily, as for examplef1 out-doors, a place for Worship;

Another vobject fofmy inyention is' to' profvidein y church furniture ofthe `aboveide- -scribed type af kneeling" bench which' canbe "fieldedintofeollapsed'position-so as to oc- ''cupy 'relatively 'small spacewhen being vstored i525 ior-trai'isportedfr'om place to place. -Anotlierf object of`my inventionis to providefa fold- ``ing kneeling'bencliwhich can be easily and I quickly extended'to supporting positionand yprgnided"vvith means for securely holding the bench inem position.A- farther Object or "1ny"`i'nventi'on -is to provide a folding benchmvvl'ierelthe arm rest andthe knee rest move together and can beextended' in kone opera- ;535 tion. Still further, lanother objectofvmyf inf 4o f ing `position to its "collapsed, position.

' Other objects 'and advantages of iny in- 4fventionjwill be apparent tothose skilled in the artafter aconsideration of the following detaileddescription,I` taken in conjunction 4.5 -f'vith'the"accompanyingdrawings, kin Which z "i930, serial No. 442,71.

' Figure lis a front elevation viewof my 1 improved kneelmgbench; n

Figure 2 1s a lsectional viev's'T takensubstantiallyon the line 2,-2lofFigure 1 and showing my `improved'kneelingbench in Vextended o position;

Figure 3fisa front elevation' vievv, corresponding to the vievvl shownin Figure l-,and illustrating'- the -positioniof 'f myk improvedkneeling bench vv'heniny collapsed -orvfolded g5 #position `and F igure4 is an enlarged =vievv taken substantially on'theline of Figure 3.

The reference numeral 1"indic'ates-inits "entirety vthevmain `frame ofmyfkneeli'ng uprightportions 2 and the interlnediatehori-ZO'ntal--p'ortions 3Y which, taken* together, Vform aframefof invertedsubstantially U-shaped'fcharac'ter. -The` legs or upright 65 portions 2are connected together by reinforcing transverse members 5, Gand 7. fThese reinforcing membe'rs have flattened ends which are'sec'ured,1as byWelding or the like,

tothe respective legs 2. VIn this Way anin- 70 expensive butI verydurable frame is provided. The armrest is indicated by the referencenumeral lO'and is seen to comprise a substantially rectangular' frame120ne longitudinal edge of which is pivoted tothe intermediate 75horizontal portion ofthe yframe 1 by means of `V hinges' l14 riveted orwelded totheframe 12 and Vto the intermedia-te portion 3 of the frame 1.`The frame 12 carries a' 'paddedor "cushioned support 16 Vwhich ymay becovered 80 "With leather 0r fabric if desired. A rigid backing memberl17 serves to support vthe member 16 on the frame 12. y

i The knee rest is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral20. The 'knee rest 20 85 comprises a substantially rectangular `frame 21of such'dimensions that the pad or cushion `member23 is spacedfarther-from the frame 1 than the arm rest 10 When the restsl are intheir extended position, as Willr be understood 90 .Cil

from Figure 2. The frame 21 is pivoted to the lower portion of theupright-s 2 by means of studs or pins 25. The pad or cushion member 23is preferably secured to the iframe member 21 by means of clips 26, seeFigure 3.

Pivoted to the frame 21 is a supporting member having rounded floor orground contacting portions 32 as shown in Figure 8. The supportingmember 30 is adapted to cooperate with the feet 35, formed of rubber' orother suitable material, on the lower ends of the uprights 2 to supportthe kneeling bench in its upright and extended position, as will beclear froinFigure 2.

The reinforcing transverse member (icarries adjacent the uprights 2 anabutment 40 at each end thereof, and connecting the frame 12 of the armrest to arms 42 secured, as by welding, to the iframe 21 of the kneerest is a pair of links 45, arranged as shown in Figure 2. A notch isformed in each of the links 45 so as to engage or embrace the abutmems40 to thereby hold the arm rest and the knee rest in extended position.For this purpose the links are resilient so as t0 allow'them to move incontact with the abutments 40 until the notch 48 comesintofjuxtaposition therewith, whereupon the links 45 will springlaterally sur'licient to immediately cause the notches 48 to embrace theabutments 40 thereby locking the arm rest and the knee rest in extendedupright position. i

For the purpose of moving the links 45 out of locked engagement with theabutments 40 I provide a manually operated releasing member 50, seeFigure 4, journaled in the upper tubular edge of the transversereinforcing member 6 and which is provided at either end with an arm 52adapted to engage the links 45 and when rocked to move the links 45 outoit their latched engagement with the abutments 40.

The releasing member is easily and conveniently actuated by means of ahandle 55 secured as by welding to the intermediate `portion of themember 50, the transverse member 6 being provided with a cutaway section57 to provide clearance for the handle 55 as well as for the spring 58one end of which is secured tothe member 50 while the other end issecured to the member 6. The spring 58 is tensioned so as to withdrawthe arms 52 from engagement with the links 45 tothe position shown inFigure 2.

The supporting member 30, which is pivvoted to the knee rest frame 21,is connected by a link 60 to each of the uprights 2, and as will be seenfrom Figure 2 the links 60 extend substantially parallel with respect tothe sides of the frame 21. The links 60 are each piv oted at their endsIto the supporting member 30 and the uprights 2 so that as the knee rest2O is'swung upwardly the supporting member 8O will be folded Ldownalongside the sides of the frame 21, as shown in Figure 3. Each of thelinks 60 is provided with a U-shaped reentrant bend 62 for the purposeof clearing the sides of the frame 21 whereby the links 60 occupy, whenthe kneeling bench is folded, a position between the sides of the frame21 and the uprights 2.

The operation of my collapsible kneeling bench is believed to beobvious. When the bench is collapsed or folded and it is desired to setup the bench for use all that is necessary is to grasp the top portion 3of the main frame 1 with one hand and with the other hand to grasp theuppermost portion of the knee rest frame 21, swinging the latter down tothe position substantially that shown in Figure 2. As the frame 21 isswung downwardly an upward thrust is exerted by the arms 42 and throughthe links 45 to the arm rest 10 to swing the same upwardly to theposition shown in Figure 2. At the same time the downward movementof the:frame 21 causes the supporting member 3() to be swung from positionalongside the frame 21 to the position shown in Figure 2, this beingaccomplished by virtue, of the arrangement of the" links 60. While Ihave shown the links 60 as extending substantially parallel with respectto the sides of the frame 21, it is to be understood that such parallelarrangement is in nowise necessary, the angular relation be`^ tween thelinks 60 and the frame 21 depending upon the angular movement necessaryto move the supporting member 80 from supporting position to a ositionalongside vthe frame 21 when latter 1s itself folded along" side themain frame 1.

When the parts have reached the position substantially that shown inFigure 2, the notch 48 in each of the links 45 comes to a point oppositethe abutments 40 whereupon' the resiliency of the links 45 causes .eachof the notches 48 to snap into latched engagement with the abutments 40.Inthis way the arm rest, knee rest, and supporting member 30 are allmaintained in extended position, so" that there is no likelihood of mykneeling bench suddenly and unexpectedly collapsing under the weight ofthe user.

Vhen it is desired to return the bench to collapsed or folded position,all that is necessary todo is to grasp the handle `55 and to swing thesame in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 so as to cause thearms 52 to enga-ge the links 45 whereupon further rocking movement ofthe handle 55 and the releasing member 50 will move the links 45 againsttheir natural resiliency and thereby release the notches 48 fromengagement with the abutments 40. While the notches 48 are held fromengagement with the abutments 40 the knee rest frame 21 is grasped andswung upwardly, and as soon as the notches 48 are moveddownwardly pastthe abutments 40 the handle 55 can be released, the

spring 58 returning ,the sameto its inactive position shown in Figure 2.As the knee rest frame 21 is swung upwardly the arms 42 exert a downwardpull on the links 45 which, inf turn, swings the arm rest 10 downwardlyandV into folded position alongside the main frame l and between theuprights 2 so as to thereby f occupy the minimum amount of space. The

knee rest frame 2l also swings upwardly to amovement of the arm rest andknee rest, re-

spectively.

While I have described in connection with the accompanying drawings onepreferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that myinvention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment shown butthat, in fact, widely different means may be utilized in the practice ofthe broaderaspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A kneeling bench comprising a frame, an arm rest hinged to the frameand adapted to extend substantially horizontal and to fold downwardly soas to lie substantially within the confines of said frame, a knee resthinged to the frame and adapted to extend substantially horizontal andto fold upwardly so as to lie substantially within the confines of saidframe, means including a link extending intermediate its ends throughsaid frame and pivotally secured to each of said rests and connectingsaid rests together so that as one swings downwardly the other swingsupwardly, means to automatically lock the rests when they are moved intoextend-ed position, and means on one of said rests for supporting saidbench in upright position.

2. A collapsible kneeling bench comprising a frame having foot portions,an arm rest, a knee rest pivoted to said frame, means connecting theknee rest to the frame to hold the same in extended position, saidconnecting means being operable at will to permit said rest to be swungto collapsed position, means on the knee rest adapted to cooperate withsaid foot portions to support the bench in upright position, said meansbeing adapted to fold against the knee rest, and means connecting thearm rest to the frame to hold the saine in extend-ed position, said twoconnecting means including a pair of links extending from one rest tothe other.

3. A collapsible kneeling bench of the class described comprising aframe of substantially inverted U-shape, supporting feet on the endsthereof, an armrest pivoted to the in' termediate portion thereof andadapted to be swung from extended position to folded position alongsidethe frame, a knee rest including a substantially rectangular framepivoted to the first named frame and a support pivoted tothe secondnamed :framexand cooperating with the feet on the first named frame to.maintain the bench in uprightposition when the .rests are extended, saidknee rest also adapted to be folded `alongside the first named frame,link means connecting the pivoted 'support to the first named frame sothat 'when the knee rest is folded alongside thefirstnained frame thesupport will be folded alongside the knee rest frame, and link meansconnecting the two rests-so that the arm rest, knee rest and supportcan-be extended in Yone operation.

Ll. A collapsible kneeling bench ofthe class described comprisinga frameof substantially inverted U-shape, supporting feet on the ends thereof,an arm rest pivoted to the intermediate portion thereof and adapted tobe swung from extended position to folded position alongside the frame,a knee rest in cluding a substantially rectangular frame pivoted tothe-first named frame and a support pivoted to the second named frameand cooperating with the feet on the first named frame to maintain thebench in upright posi- 'n tion when the rests are extended, said kneerest also adapted to be folded alongside the first named frame, linkmeans connecting the pivoted support to the first named frame so thatwhen the knee rest is folded alongside' the first named frame thesupport will be folded alongside the knee rest frame, and link meansconnecting the two rests so that the arm rest, knee rest and support canbe extended in one operation, said second named link means beingresilient and having a notch so formed as to engage a portion of thefirst named frame so as to hold the rests and support in extendedposition.

5. A collapsible kneeling bench of the class i' described comprising aframe of substantially inverted U-shape, supporting feet on the endsthereof, an arm rest pivoted to the intermediate portion thereof andadapted to be swung from extended position to folded posi` tionalongside the frame, a knee rest including a substantially rectangularframe pivoted to the first named frame and a support pivoted to thesecond named frame and cooperating` with the feet of the first namedframe" to maintain the bench in upright position when the rests areextended, said knee rest also adapted to be folded alongside the firstnamed frame, link means connecting the pivoted support to the firstnamed frame so that? when the knee rest is folded alongside the firstnamed frame the support will be folded alongside the Vknee rest fra-me,link means connecting the two rests so that the arm rest,

knee rest and support can be extended in one abutment When it is desiredto collapse the bench.

6. A Collapsible kneeling bench comprising a frame, an arm rest pvotedto said freine, a knee rest pivoted to said frame, means for 4 swingingsaid rests simultaneously into sub- Stantiai horizontal position oneabove the other on the saine Side of said frame ineinhei, a support forsaid frame pivoted to said knee rest, and means connecting said supportto said fra-lne for swinging said support about its pivot.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5 day of April1930. 1C JOI-IN KAZOWSKI.

